Last October, the Mixing Methods in Migration Research took place online. Mixed methods research is known to increase understanding and therefore perfectly suitable to capture complex phenomena such as migration. Despite its widespread approval, the actual integration of methods in migration studies is still limited. In this conference, we brought together academic researchers interested in and/or experienced with mixed methods research in the field of migration. The aim of the conference was to raise and discuss challenges and considerations associated with doing mixed methods research and together move towards a true blending of methodologies. In this short contribution Nella Geurts – the main organizer of the event – reflects on the two-day conference.

Call for Proposals: (Online) PhD Event 2021/2022

DAMR seeks to actively engage with PhD researchers working on migration issues. For this aim, the DAMR gives young researchers the opportunity to organize academic events. The proposed events can be workshops, panel debates, or other innovative events that bring together academic researchers and/or engage with a wider audience. The focus of the event can be on a wide range of issues related to migration debates around the world, and relate to different dimensions of the phenomenon. However, activities that have an interdisciplinary approach and involve early career members from various institutions are particularly encouraged. As DAMR is committed to facilitating dialogue between academics, also during ever changing conditions in the global pandemic, we accept proposals for organizing workshops, seminars or other events online and/or offline.

A large part of research in migration studies focuses on urban centers. Context-specific social processes surrounding international migration to and diversity in rural regions, small villages and marginalized, or downscaled, areas have been widely omitted by scholarship and policy. However, the often specific social make-up, community structures and spatial developments in those areas, may bring about dynamics that are different from those in big cities.

This workshop invites early career researchers, PhD candidates, post-Doc researchers and master students, who are keen to shift, decenter or broaden the focus on international migration into rural areas to come together.

DAMR would like to invite you to an upcoming webinar on 3 December, organized by DAMR, the Utrecht University Focus Area on Migration and Societal Change and the IMISCOE Standing Committee on Migrant Transnationalism (MITRA). The webinar is entitled “Migration Trajectories and Transnational Support within and beyond Europe”, and lines up the contributors to a recently published Special Issue in the Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies.

In June 2021, a group of early-career researchers with an interest in rural areas got together online for the 2021 DAMR PhD event. While a lot of migration research revolves around big cities which attract large numbers of migrants, attention has been broadening as more and more research projects address migration into rural and marginalized areas around the world. The two sessions of this DAMR PhD event allowed early career researchers working on migration related topics in rural and marginalized areas to come together to exchange with each other and with advanced researchers from both rural and migration studies about methodological and theoretical challenges. In this short contribution, Jana Finke - one of the events' organizers - reflects on the two-day session.

Join us on October 21^st and 22^nd this year for a virtual conference on mixing methods in migration studies. Moving beyond whether or not mixing methods is a valuable endeavor, this conference aims to address practicalities and best practices in mixed methods research. With keynotes from Jørgen Carling and Rossalina Latcheva as well as workshops on topics such as publishing mixed methods research, we are convinced this conference will spark a fruitful conversation and future collaborations.

More information via the flyer.

Call for membership

The Dutch Association for Migration Research (DAMR) is an inclusive, international network of academic researchers with an interest in contributing to the development of migration research in the Netherlands.

DAMR has the objective of increasing the scientific standing of migration research in the Netherlands. We value interdisciplinary approaches to migration studies, encourage theory formation and advancement based on empirical research and facilitate science communication among researchers and with relevant stakeholders.

With this call, we invite scholars from all academic levels to become a member of DAMR and contribute to current discussions on migration with an academic perspective.

As an inclusive platform of scientific exchange and networking, we especially encourage PhD candidates and young researchers to join us!

We are looking forward to welcoming you to our network and our (online) events soon!

DAMR is looking for new board members! Are you interested in contributing to the biggest network of migration scholars in the Netherlands and representing the migration research taking place at your university? Please find the full call below – we particularly encourage applications from universities not currently represented in our board (Tilburg University, Wageningen University, Groningen University, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the technical universities in Delft, Twente and Eindhoven).

On April 21st, DAMR hosted its first ‘PhD-ing from home’ event. In collaboration with Lieneke Van Waalwijk Van Doorn – trainer and coach at Limen Coaching – we gathered 20 PhD researchers working across universities in and beyond the Netherlands and had an interactive, two-hour session on what it is like to work from home while conducting your PhD.

On the 3th of December 2020, DAMR  (in cooperation with Utrecht University and the IMISCOE Standing Committee on Migrant Transnationalism (MITRA) hosted a webinar on migration trajectories and transnational support. With over 70 participants, thought-provoking presentations and discussions, as well as a great discussion on Emiel Marten's "Gifts from Babylon", the event was a great success. To (re)watch the full event, please find a recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2rUkFUOp4Y.